Bates Area Civic Association

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 16, 2010
Contact:

Victoria A. Leonard
202.727.8204 (desk)
202.403.7866 (cell)
vleonard@dccouncil.us

Thomas Supports Earmark Recommendations Contained in Special Counsel’s Report, Thanks Special Counsel and Team for Their Work

Washington, DC-Ward 5 Councilmember Harry “Tommy” Thomas, Jr. extended his appreciation and heartfelt thanks to Special Counsel Robert S. Bennett of Hogan & Hartson LLP and Deputy Special Council Amy R. Sabrin of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP for their work on “Council of the District of Columbia Contracts and Grants: Report of Investigation Pursuant to D.C. Council Resolution 18-217,” which was released today.

Councilmember Thomas supports the recommendations made by Special Counsel to drastically reform or eliminate the earmark process. Specifically, in the report Special Counsel recommends that earmark grantmaking, as currently practiced by the D.C. Council, be discontinued. If the Council determines to continue earmarking grants without competition, Special Counsel recommends in the report that Council Rules 730-733 be supplemented to include, at a minimum, the following elements:

· Eliminate the use of fiscal agents.
· Require grantees to have been incorporated for at least three years, and consider awarding earmark grants only to those organizations that can raise matching funds in the private sector.
· Require organizations seeking grants to submit a formal request to the Committee with oversight over the subject of the grant, including a detailed description of the organization, its officers, the proposed grant activities, a budget, and a financial statement. Would-be grantees should also testify at a hearing of the relevant Council Committee.
· Establish a limit on the overall percentage of or dollars in the District budget that can be allocated to Council earmark grants.
· Prohibit grantees from receiving earmark grants more than three times.

“Mr. Bennett and Ms. Sabrin and their team provided the Council and the District of Columbia with a tremendous public service by undertaking the investigation and preparing this comprehensive report pro bobo,” said Councilmember Thomas. “I look forward to working with my colleagues to implement the recommendations outlined in the report.”

Harry “Tommy” Thomas, Jr. represents Ward 5 on the Council of the District of Columbia. Thomas chairs the Council’s Committee on Libraries, Parks, and Recreation. He sits on four additional committees: Workforce Development and the Environment, Aging and Community Affairs, Housing and Workforce Development, and Public Services and Consumer Affairs.